MEMO From Michael: Happy CHARACTER COUNTS! Week!
I am in Washington, D.C., looking out my hotel window at the Washington Monument, which is undergoing renovation and shrouded in scaffolding. I’m here for a meeting of the Josephson Institute’s Board of Governors. Two important things happened in Congress last night. Of course you know that both the Senate and House finally approved a budget (for a few months) …
Be Worthy of Trust
A lie is still a lie even if you cross your fingers. Be loyal. Be faithful. Be worthy of trust.
What Do Educators Think About Education in America? (Preliminary Report #2 on our Survey Results)
Summary. We surveyed more than 2,500 educators (board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, counselors and support staff) and asked them to give their opinions on the trends in education in the past five years. (Are you an educator? Please take the survey here if you haven’t already.) Here are some of the survey results so far. What’s Going Well. Majority of educators believe …
OBSERVATION: How About This Solution to the Problem of Self-Righteous and Self-Delusional Members of Congress?
It may require a Constitutional amendment since there is no way this Congress will pass any law that truly holds their feet to the fire regarding their budgetary responsibilities, but I think two reforms could be worth it. 1) Let’s adopt the rule that Israel has. If the legislature does not agree on a budget at the designated date automatically …
MEMO From Michael: How Are We Going to Get Out of This Mess?
I am finding myself out of patience. I have listened to mostly sincere (to the point of self-righteous) politicians and partisan pundits excoriate the people they disagree with. They evade uncomfortable questions and explain why they are taking positions that may be based on principle but have become little more than tactical maneuvering. The focus is on who should get the …
OBSERVATION: In a democracy, everyone is entitled to express their opinion and a right to be heard, but that doesn’t mean all opinions are equal.
Opinions aren’t facts but they are often based on facts and since facts are themselves disputable the premise of an opinion is often itself an opinion. If the facts are wrong, incomplete or exaggerated the opinion is not entitled to serious attention. Worthy opinions are responsible opinions reflecting integrity and reason and the humility to realize that no matter how …
Perseverance Makes the Difference
When you are about to give up, think about why you held on so long and whether you can hang on just a little longer. Perseverance makes the difference.
MEMO From Michael: Sneak Peek – Some Surprising Preliminary Results of Our Educators’ Survey
(Updated 11/26/13) Nearly 4500 educators (76 Board members, 225 superintendents, 616 principals, 2414 teachers and 406 school counselors) have already taken the new Josephson Institute survey on the state of education in America. (If you haven’t already, please take the survey here and please share this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JIEducatorSurvey on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere to encourage others to take it as well — …
Just Because You Miss Someone
Just because you miss someone doesn’t mean you should be with them. Don’t let your feelings cause you to forget the facts. – Michael Josephson
WORTH SEEING: Poster: The Gift of Goodness
Virtue isn’t a golden ticket to a pain-free life. Bad things happen to good people as often as they happen to bad people. In the natural order of the world, suffering is random. To expect otherwise is to sentence oneself to despondency, disillusionment, bitterness and anger. HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS: The reward you get for being a good person isn’t …
Note From Your Teacher: What I Want for You
NOTE FROM YOUR TEACHER: WHAT I WANT FOR YOU I want for each of you what I want for my own children. I want to help you be happy and healthy. I want you to be successful and confident, strong, resilient, and optimistic. BUT I also want you to be the best person you can be. I want you to
WORTH SEEING: Poster: Doing
Doing what you must is DUTY Doing what you should is VIRTUE Doing what you can is SERVICE Doing what you are afraid of is COURAGE Doing what you like is FREEDOM Liking what you do is HAPPINESS
MEMO From Michael: Violence and Mass Killings: Our New Reality?
What a sad irony that right after re-living the tragedies of the 9/11 terrorist attacks we are confronted with another senseless mass shooting, resulting in 12 deaths and eight injuries at the Washington Navy Yard. And while we are digesting that, 13 people were shot in a Chicago, apparently the result of a random shooting by a roving gang. Do …
WORTH SEEING: Poster. I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health. — Voltaire
I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health. — Voltaire A person is generally about as happy as he’s willing to be. — Abraham Lincoln CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.
Five Birds on a Wire
WORTH SEEING: Poster. There are five birds on a wire. Two decide to fly south. How many are left? The answer: five. Deciding to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Your future is determined by actions, not good intentions.
WORTH SEEING: Poster. Don’t be limited by what you see from where you are. Climb to a higher place and you will see a …
Don’t be limited by what you see from where you are. Climb to a higher place and you will see a future with unlimited opportunities. Travel. Read. Try new things. Make new friends. There is no end to what you can achieve once you see the possibilities.
WORTH SEEING: Poster. There is a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. — Justice Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court
There is a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. — Justice Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court People of character often do more than they are required to do and less than they are allowed to do.
You Can’t Go Anywhere with a Bad Attitude
Poster. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t get anywhere you want to go until you change it. – Michael Josephson